Virginia confirms equine strangles case in Loudoun County

A 4-year-old Morgan mare in Loudoun County, Virginia, tested positive for strangles on March 2, after developing fever, nasal discharge, cough, and lethargy on February 25. According to The Horse, the illness began roughly two to three weeks after a new horse arrived from Georgia; that horse had previously shown respiratory signs that appeared resolved before transport. Eight horses on the farm were reported exposed. The case was distributed through EDCC Health Watch, which republishes verified reports sourced from the Equine Disease Communication Center. (thehorse.com)

Why it matters: For equine veterinarians and barn managers, the case is a reminder that horses can introduce Streptococcus equi after recent travel, even when respiratory signs seem to have cleared. AAEP guidance describes strangles as highly contagious, spread by direct contact and fomites, and notes that horses without obvious clinical signs can still be incubating disease or become persistent shedders. Other industry guidance adds that recovered horses can remain contagious for at least six weeks, and that PCR testing can be performed on a nasal swab, wash, or abscess sample. That makes intake history, fever monitoring, isolation protocols, hygiene and disinfection, and early diagnostic testing especially important when new arrivals join a resident herd. (aaep.org, equimanagement.com)

What to watch: Watch for any additional Virginia alerts tied to this exposure group, along with quarantine, testing, and release updates from EDCC-linked reporting. Recent Virginia EDCC reports have also included other contagious equine disease events, including a Prince William County boarding-facility strangles case in a quarantined horse and a Louisa County EHV-1 outbreak involving 10 positive horses, 25 exposed horses, one euthanasia, and a quarantined premises. (thehorse.com, equimanagement.com, thehorse.com)